New research has found that a key ingredient in Earl Grey tea, bergamot extract, lowers cholesterol and guards against a disease responsible for more than a quarter of all deaths in the U.K.

The Mediterranean fruit which gives Earl Grey its distinctive flavour contains enzymes known as HMGF (hydroxy methyl glutaryl flavonones) which fight against proteins known to contribute to cardiovascular disease.

The scientists even claim that bergamot could be as effective at lowering cholesterol as statins, the medication given to patients battling with cholesterol problems.

Writing in the Journal of Functional Foods the team from Italy's University of Calabria claim that a dietary supplement of HMGF could be just as effective at combating low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or 'bad' cholesterol, and also increases levels of high-density lipoporteins (HDL), or 'good' cholesterol.

They write, "Ex tract from bergamot – most commonly used in Earl Grey tea - reduced total cholesterol and LDL levels but there was an increase in HDL levels. There for a daily supplement of bergamot fruit extract could be very effective for the treatment of high cholesterol."